Written Answers

Tuesday 24 October 2000

Scottish Executive

Autism

Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-6049 by Susan Deacon on 4 May 2000, how it plans to assist the study of autism announced by the Medical Research Council on 3 April 2000 and whether this study will provide information on the number of children under the age of 10 who have been diagnosed with autism in each year since 1980.

Susan Deacon: The Executive will be happy to provide, so far as possible, whatever help the research team may seek.

  The study will not provide information on the number of children under the age of 10 who have been diagnosed with autism since 1980.

  The researchers will, however, study whether autistic children have a history of other conditions or medical problems, for example, problems during birth. They will examine whether viral infections in the womb or soon after birth appear to play a role in producing autism. Representative samples of health records will be drawn from over two million people registered with 300 general practices across the UK. The research is a case-controlled study comparing matched samples of autistic and non-autistic children and will consider causal factors rather than incidence.

Cancer

Dr Richard Simpson (Ochil) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since the Parliament last met to address its health priority of cancer care.

Susan Deacon: Cancer is one of three clinical priorities for the NHS in Scotland. We have pledged to tackle the root causes of ill health and work over the next 10 years to promote healthier living and reduce the incidence of cancer by 20% in the under 75’s. Our strategy is set out in Towards a Healthier Scotland and in The Programme for Government .

  We have made clear our continuing commitment to the Scottish breast and cervical screening programmes, a pilot programme of colorectal screening, the introduction of Managed Clinical Networks underpinned by robust programmes of audit and quality assurance, the development and monitoring of standards through the Clinical Standards Board and the establishment of one-stop clinics to reduce waiting times for cancer diagnosis and treatment.

  I am determined to face the challenges posed by cancer and in August I announced a £16 million capital investment programme for imaging equipment to provide faster, better diagnosis and faster, better treatment for people with cancer.

Cancer

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will allocate resources to health boards for the testing of the HER-2 gene in metastatic breast cancer.

Susan Deacon: There is insufficient evidence to support routine HER-2 gene testing in the adjuvant treatment of metastatic breast cancer.

Cancer

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-9629 by Susan Deacon on 19 September 2000, whether it will provide details on the four specific breast cancer projects it has funded and the funding allocated to each.

Susan Deacon: Details of these four projects and other breast cancer projects can be found in the National Research Register, which can be accessed through the Department of Health website at www.doh.gov.uk/research.

Cancer

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to implement a system of free or subsidised public transport for women and men travelling to NHS facilities for cancer screening or treatment.

Susan Deacon: Information on patient travelling expenses schemes was provided in response to question S1O-2151 and applies equally to patients with cancer as for any other disease.

  So far as screening is concerned, the majority of breast and cervical cancer screening is undertaken near to women’s homes at mobile screening units, GP premises and health centres.

Cancer

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-9623 by Susan Deacon on 19 September 2000, who holds the information requested on whether the standard set by the Clinical Standards Board for Scotland of one breast care nurse per 150 breast cancers is being met and why this information is not held centrally.

Susan Deacon: The draft standards drawn up by the Clinical Standards Board for Scotland are currently being reviewed following recent pilot visits to a number of NHS Trust throughout Scotland.

  In undertaking its accreditation assessments of services against the agreed standards, CSBS relies on sources of evidence clearly set out in the published standards themselves. Responsibility for such evidence rests in the main with NHS Trusts who are not only expected to be able to provide evidence of the standards to CSBS but also to continuously self assess their services against the standards.

Cancer

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting time is for radiotherapy treatment at Glasgow Western Infirmary.

Susan Deacon: Radiotherapy treatment waiting times are not measured in this way. Cancer centres give high priority to starting treatment as soon as possible after clinical decisions on treatment options have been made.

  Information on minimum and maximum waiting times for radiotherapy in all of Scotland’s cancer centres was provided in my response to question S1W-8087.

Cancer

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding was committed in 1999-2000, will be committed in the current financial year and is estimated to be committed for any future years for which figures are available, for research into links between cancer and poverty.

Susan Deacon: The Executive’s programme designed to improve the health of Scots and specifically to reduce cancer morbidity in the under 75’s by one fifth in the next ten years is set out in the White Paper Towards a Healthier Scotland . A broad raft of initiatives designed to tackle deprivation and social justice is already underway.

  The Scottish Cancer Group has also provided £50,000 for specific research projects, one on deprivation and cancer being conducted by the University of Glasgow Department of Public Health Medicine and one by the University of Edinburgh looking at the link between ethnicity, smoking and cancer.

  Additionally, the New Opportunities Fund Healthy Living Centre initiative is also investing £34.5 million in three centres across Scotland aimed at tackling health inequalities of those who live in Scotland’s most disadvantaged areas.

  The Chief Scientist Office cancer programme currently provides funding for 12 cancer projects at a total cost of £1,520,651, the results of which are expected to provide further insight into cancer in general and therefore likely to be of benefit in cancer aetiology as well as cancer care.

Climate Change Levy

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what impact it estimates the proposed climate change levy will have on the forestry industry.

Mr John Home Robertson: The climate change levy aims to encourage energy efficiency by all industries to help meet the UK’s target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The direct financial impact of the levy on the forestry industry has not been assessed because information on energy consumption by the industry is not held centrally. However, some sectors of the industry that are classed as energy intensive have either agreed energy efficiency targets which enable them to obtain an 80% discount on the levy, or are still negotiating to agree such targets. All sectors will be eligible to apply for enhanced capital allowances on energy saving investments.

  Whilst the UK’s priority is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the activities of the forestry industry do, of course, create an important carbon sink through the sequestration of carbon by trees and its storage in wood products.

Elderly People

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which elderly people’s organisations the Deputy Minister for Community Care has met in the last six months and which he plans to meet in the next six months to discuss the setting up of a consultative older people’s group.

Iain Gray: In the last six months I have met with a range of older people’s groups including the Scottish Old Age Pensions Association, Scottish Pensioners’ Forum, Better Government for Older People representatives, Age Concern Scotland and the Confederation of Scotland’s Elderly to discuss a variety of issues. In our published response to the Royal Commission on Long Term Care we announced our intention to publish an Action Agenda for older people early next year. A key aspect of this will be to answer increased involvement and wider participation to make sure that older people’s voices are heard, their contributions recognised and concerns addressed.

Enterprise

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what evidence it has of any "brain drain" from the electronics industry and what representations it has made to the Chancellor of the Exchequer regarding the taxation of stock options and the effect upon the industry in Scotland.

Henry McLeish: The Scottish Executive does not hold comprehensive data on a "brain drain" within the electronics industry but we are aware of reports on specific shortages in some firms and sectors. This is emerging as a worldwide problem and the Scottish Executive has made a commitment to support training for skills that match jobs for the future.

  The taxation of stock options is reserved. The Scottish Executive holds discussions with UK Departments as necessary on a range of issues.

Enterprise

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has and what funding it will make available for the promotion of creative industries through (a) creative fellowships in further and higher education, (b) commercialisation funding in the public and private sector, (c) international research fellowships and (d) a programme of overseas exchanges, as set out in the Scottish Enterprise document Creative Scotland: Shaping the Future .

Henry McLeish: The Creative Industries Cluster Plan, developed by Scottish Enterprise in conjunction with the sector, identifies key strategic objectives which will be developed over the next three to five years. It also anticipates the timescales and resources which will be required to meet these objectives.

  One of these key strategic objectives is the enhancement and development of the skills and talent base. Scottish Enterprise is now working with educationalists and skills training providers to identify key projects which sit within the framework of that overall objective. This is an area which is seen as a sustainable medium to long-term intervention on the part of SE and its cluster partners. The initial research carried out with the industries and educationalists and skills providers identified the provision of opportunities to learn from peers both in the UK and overseas as a priority. Any projects developed in the skill/training field will be put forward for approval in the context of SE’s annual planning cycle.

  In relation to commercialisation funding, the Creative Industries Cluster is eligible to apply for assistance to the Scottish Executive’s Proof of Concept fund, which has been established to facilitate the commercialisation of innovative ideas. Scottish Enterprise will also, within the cluster context, seek to build relationships between innovators and the private sector as appropriate.

Finance

Mr Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what capital expenditure, in cash and real terms, in the public sector (a) was in each year for which figures are available and (b) is expected to be in each year for which projections are available.

Mr Jack McConnell: The table below sets out capital expenditure in the public sector in cash and real terms (at 1999-2000 prices). Any analysis of capital investment in the public sector should also include capital investment levered in through Public/Private Partnerships and the Private Finance Initiative. In 1994-95 capital investment through PFI was £11 million and the Scottish Executive expects this to be £472 million in 1999-2000.

  





£ million




1994-95


1995-96


1996-97


1997-98


1998-99


1999-2000


2000-01




Outturn


Outturn


Outturn


Outturn


Outturn


Outturn


Estimated Outturn




Cash


1,896


1,725


1,614


1,429


1,482


1,494


1,832




Real Terms


2,186


1,932


1,751


1,508


1,520


1,494


1,792




  





£ million




2001-02


2002-03


2003-04




Provisional
Plan


Provisional
Plan


Provisional
Plan




Cash


2,241


2,341


2,516




Real Terms


2,138


2,179


2,285

Food Safety

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has powers to lift spinal cord removal restrictions on ewes in Scotland and, if so, whether it has any plans to do so.

Susan Deacon: The Food Standards Agency advises Ministers in relation to Scottish Regulations safeguarding the food chain, including the requirement to remove the spinal cord in sheep as Specified Risk Material.

  New Regulations came into force on 1 October giving effect to a recent Commission Decision (00/418/EC, agreed on 29 June) on EU-wide controls over Specified Risk Material. These continue the provisions of previous national legislation that spinal cord should be removed from all sheep over 12 months old or those that have a permanent incisor erupted through the gum.

Hepatitis C

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-5627 by Susan Deacon on 11 April 2000, when the internal investigation into hepatitis C infection due to contaminated blood products will be completed and when the report will be made public.

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-5627 by Susan Deacon on 11 April 2000, whether the scope of the internal investigation into hepatitis C infection due to contaminated blood products will include consideration of and recommendations on compensation.

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-5627 by Susan Deacon on 11 April 2000, when the fact finding exercise into specific aspects of the issue of hepatitis C and other infections contracted from contaminated blood products in Scotland commenced; when it is expected to be concluded; whether it will set up an independent inquiry into this issue and whether all documentation relating to the fact finding exercise will be placed in the public domain or made available to interested parties.

John Scott (Ayr) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-2146 by Susan Deacon on 6 July 2000, when the report of the internal investigation into the infection of Scottish haemophilia patents via contaminated blood products will be published.

Mr Alex Salmond (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-2321 by Susan Deacon on 28 September 2000, whether it has established an exact date for publication of the report into hepatitis C and heat treatment of blood products for haemophiliacs and its response to this report.

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish the results of its inquiry into hepatitis C contracted as a consequence of treatment by contaminated blood products.

Susan Deacon: The report Hepatitis C and the Heat Treatment of Blood Products for Haemophiliacs in the mid-1980s was published today. A copy has been placed in SPICe.

Housing

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what response it plans to make to the concerns raised in the report of 3 October 2000 on the Glasgow housing stock transfer for Glasgow City Council regarding a possible increase in bureaucracy and potential risk for deprived people and pensioners.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Policy on housing benefit is a reserved matter which is the responsibility of DSS.

  CoSLA wrote to the DSS in April about the implications for a possible stock transfer in Glasgow of the requirement, in certain circumstances, to refer rent increases to the Rent Officer. DSS explained that, as rent levels before and after stock transfer would most likely remain below that of relevant property in the private rented sector, it is very unlikely that tenants would be disadvantaged.

Land Purchase

Scott Barrie (Dunfermline West) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to review the implications of the case of Sharp v Thomson (1997 SC (HL) 66) for the law in relation to the purchase of heritable property from a registered company whose assets are subject to a floating charge.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Executive is aware that the case of Sharp v Thomson raised a number of issues in relation to the purchase of heritage from registered companies. To ensure that the implications of this case are fully considered and the wider context of current reviews of the law on diligence and land attachment is taken into account, I have invited the Scottish Law Commission to examine the position, and they have accepted the following reference:

  "To consider the implications of the decision of the House of Lords in Sharp v Thomson 1997 SC(HL)66 and to make recommendations as to possible reform of the law."

Medical Staff

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many medical students graduated in Scotland in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Susan Deacon: The number of medical students graduated in Scotland in each of the last five years for which figures are available are shown in the following table. The table should be read in conjunction with the notes below.

  





1993-942


1994-95


1995-96


1996-97


1997-98




Dentistry


1,049


125


135


143


125




Medicine 


1,090


903


930


977




Allied to Medicine5


1,520


2,094


2,825


4,030


5,671




  Notes:

  1. Source: Scottish Executive, Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).

  2. Separate figures for Dentistry and Medicine in 1993-94 are not readily available.

  3. Figures are for full-time students, from both Higher and Further Education Institutions, who successfully completed a higher education course in Scotland.

  4. Higher education courses are defined as those at HNC/HND level and above.

  5. Allied to Medicine includes courses such as Pharmacology, Opthalmics and Nursing.

  6. 1998-99 data will be published in November 2000.

Medical Staff

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many doctors resigned from the profession in the first two years after qualification in each of the last four years for which figures are available.

Susan Deacon: The following tables give the information requested for UK graduates (Table 1) and Scottish graduates (Table 2). The information has been provided by the Medical Careers Research Group (MCRG) at the University of Oxford. MCRG ask all those who graduate from UK medical schools about their employment history, providing a long-term picture of medical careers. They do not survey graduates every year. The most recent four years for which data are available are the graduates of 1996, 1993, 1988 and 1983.

  The numbers recorded as not currently working in medicine include those who will rejoin the profession after a temporary career break.

  Table 1: All UK medical graduates two years after graduation

  





1996 graduates in 
1998


1993 graduates in 
1995


1988 graduates in 
1990


1983 graduates in 
1986*




Total responders


2,509


2,803


2,823


3,275




Not in medical profession


71


86


124


126




%


2.8


3.1


4.4


3.8




  * After three years: data for two years unavailable.

  Table 2: All Scottish graduates two years after graduation

  





1996 graduates in 
1998


1993 graduates in 
1995


1988 graduates in 
1990


1983 graduates in 
1986*




Total responders


413


439


456


459




Not in medical profession


8


11


16


13




%


1.9


2.5


3.5


2.8




  * After three years: data for two years unavailable.

Medical Staff

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many nurses resigned from the profession in the first two years after qualification in each of the last four years for which figures are available.

Susan Deacon: The information requested is not available centrally.

Medical Staff

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many behaviour optometrists are practising in Scotland.

Susan Deacon: The information requested is not available centrally.

Medical Staff

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many behaviour optometrists are employed by the National Health Service in Scotland.

Susan Deacon: The information requested is not available centrally. However, there are currently 29 qualified optometrists employed in the NHS in Scotland. How many are behaviour optometrists is not known.

NHS Equipment

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it is planned to review the linear accelerators at Glasgow Western Infirmary.

Susan Deacon: State of the art linear accelerators and treatment planning computers for the delivery of radiotherapy in Scotland’s five cancer centres are being provided through a phased programme, agreed in consultation with Cancer Centre Directors. £13.2 million from the Executive’s modernisation fund has been provided to fund this strategic programme.

  In June this year, I announced the first round of equipment purchases totalling £5.8 million. This includes additional equipment for the Beatson Oncology Centre at the Western Infirmary.

  Additionally as a result of a separate procurement exercise the Beatson Oncology Centre will shortly begin the commissioning phase of a further three linear accelerators costing £2.2 million, to be sited in specialised buildings at Gartnavel Hospital. The total cost of this project is almost £10 million.

NHS Funding

Mr David Davidson (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide an explanation of any late payment of central resources to hospital Trusts throughout Scotland in 1999-2000 and the current year to date.

Susan Deacon: The Scottish Executive does not make payment of central resources to NHS Trusts. Where appropriate, central resources are allocated to health boards and this is done at the earliest opportunity.

Rural Affairs

Mr Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the current position is in relation to the availability of funding for the planting of farm woodlands.

Mr John Home Robertson: Funding for the planting of farm woodlands is available under the Woodland Grant Scheme as before. Approvals under the Farm Woodland Premium Scheme were restarted from 21 August and funding of annual payments, at the same rates as before, is currently available under the scheme.

Skye Bridge

Mr John Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of total Skye Bridge toll income goes towards (a) repayment of debt; (b) interest charges on the capital cost of the project; (c) annual maintenance costs; (d) toll collection costs; (e) administration, and (f) profit.

Sarah Boyack: I refer the member to my answer to question S1O-2379.

Sport

Mrs Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements it has put in place to monitor and report on progress towards the implementation of the key challenges and targets of Sport 21, the national strategy for sport in Scotland .

Rhona Brankin: A Review Group comprising representatives from various bodies with an interest in sport and chaired by me was established earlier this year to consider Scotland’s progress in implementing Sport 21 . This first review of Sport 21 has now been completed and  sportscotland have today published the findings in Sport 21: Nothing Left to Chance – First Review: Report on Progress . Good progress has been made in most areas but we all must pick up the pace if we are to realise the full benefits of sport for people of all age groups and walks of life throughout Scotland.

  A copy of the report is being sent to all members and additional copies will be made available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Holyrood Project

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Presiding Officer whether the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body received from the Scottish Office evidence that all EU Regulations for public building procurement procedures were fully complied with in respect of all professional appointments, including that of lead architect, associate architects, project managers and other personnel involved in the Holyrood project.

Sir David Steel: The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB) was briefed by senior Parliament officials about procedures used for appointments of the consultants and professionals involved in the Holyrood project following the transfer of responsibility for the project to the SPCB on 1 June 1999. The SPCB is satisfied that the appointments were undertaken properly and in full compliance with existing regulations. Furthermore, the independent assessments of the Holyrood Project, by John Spencely and the Auditor General for Scotland, gave no suggestion that any procurement regulations had been breached.

Holyrood Project

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Presiding Officer whether the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body received any information from the Scottish Office on what consideration was given to the practice resources, back-up and track record of Enric Miralles before his appointment.

Sir David Steel: The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB) was briefed by senior Parliament officials about the selection process which culminated in the appointment of EMBT/RMJM as architects for the new Parliament building, following the transfer of responsibility for the Holyrood Project to the SPCB on 1 June 1999. The briefing indicated that the backgrounds of all shortlisted candidates for the appointment were taken into account before the commission was awarded to EMBT/RMJM. The information was passed on to MSPs in SPCB report no. 1 of 9 June 1999.

Holyrood Project

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Presiding Officer whether the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body received any information from the Scottish Office on how the composition of the Parliament building project selection panel was decided upon and whether any posts were advertised.

Sir David Steel: The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB) was briefed by senior Parliament officials about the selection process which culminated in the appointment of EMBT/RMJM as architects for the new Parliament building, following the transfer of responsibility for the Holyrood Project to the SPCB on 1 June 1999. I understand that positions on the panel were not advertised publicly, but that suitably qualified individuals were identified and appointed by the then Secretary of State for Scotland.

Holyrood Project

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Presiding Officer whether the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body received any information from the Scottish Office on whether the tender bid of Bovis was higher that that of McAlpine’s and what criteria were applied in appointing Bovis as main contractor to the Holyrood project.

Sir David Steel: The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB) was briefed by senior Parliament officials about procedures used for the Construction Management appointment for the Holyrood project following the transfer of responsibility for the project to the SPCB on 1 June 1999. No details of the individual bids involved were reported at that time but I understand that the selection panel were satisfied that, on the basis of price and quality, Bovis were the best candidates for the commission. The Auditor General for Scotland in his recent report confirmed that, in appointing a Construction Manager, Project Management was correct in taking quality as well as price into account.

Holyrood Project

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Presiding Officer whether the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body received any information from the Scottish Office on whether the appointment of Bovis as main contractor for the Holyrood project was in accordance with UK and EU guidelines for public building procurement.

Sir David Steel: The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB) was briefed by senior Parliament officials about the appointment of Bovis as Construction Managers for the Holyrood project following the transfer of responsibility for the project to the SPCB on 1 June 1999. The SPCB is satisfied that the appointment was undertaken properly and in full compliance with existing regulations. Furthermore, the independent assessments of the Holyrood project, by John Spencely and the Auditor General for Scotland, gave no suggestion that any procurement regulations had been breached.